When You Work With Me…

Each session is custom-crafted. I offer results-oriented massage therapy to relieve discomfort and encourage pain-free range of motion, so that people feel better and heal better.

My approach is grounded in doing no harm, evidence-based scientific research, regard for breath, respect for the body, and my experiences from having given and received bodywork.

Some the ways I work include:

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) can impact better long-term health outcomes before and after surgery and can be effective at treating injuries and discomfort when other types of bodywork fall short. It is effective at reducing swelling, decreasing pain, and stimulating immune system function. MLD utilizes gentle, slow, rhythmic strokes along key areas of the body where lymph nodes and vessels are found, returning excess fluid to the cardiovascular system and eventually eliminating it from the body at a rate 3-4 times faster than without it. People report feeling lighter, less bloated, and deeply relaxed or more energized after a session.

Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Massage uses safe, side-lying and semi-reclined positions to support pregnant bodies on the massage table. Pregnancy massage is informed by understanding the postural changes that the body undergoes, including hormonal influences, so that you receive care that is beneficial during the birth year.

Optional breast massage can facilitate comfort and ease during the biggest hormonal change a female body will ever undergo: from birth to breastfeeding! We have special training and WA state endorsement and have offered breast massage to pregnant and postpartum clients at home and in hospital. Performed in many cultures around the world, breast massage is included in many standards of care outside the USA. Breast massage can create positive changes in breast tissue to facilitate lactation, easing pressure, and even increasing milk production. On an emotional level, breast massage can also offer somatic support during the transition to parenthood.

Neural fascial release uses less emollient so the practitioner can feel into deeper layers (rather than sliding along the skin’s surface). This allows greater sensing of underlying structures like bones, tendons, ligaments, and fascial lines of tension between different areas of the body to invite positive change. Scar-release techniques may also significantly improve range of motion from cesarian scars, joint replacements, or other surgeries even years after the procedure. With fascial work we tend to your body —without pain or bruising—so results often last longer in the days that follow.

Swedish Massage is a beautiful form of massage that uses emollient and flowing strokes for whole-body wellness. Tried and true: effleurage, petrissage, tapotement (tapping), and friction are applied in a patterned and purposeful way for a lovely therpeutic experience. Organic oils for extra nourishment, or pain-relief cream to reduce inflammation, may be added.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) invites you to actively engage in movement through contracting and relaxing, or pressing into resistance, which increases blood flow and can integrate body regions that have experienced instability, for example whiplash injuries. MET is a type of neuromuscular approach that can reduce compensation patterns and increase sensation when combined with other forms of bodywork.